Iraq: Policy of Containment - An Analysis on Why It Has Failed and What To Do Next

摘要

It has been nearly twelve years and three United States (U.S.) presidential administrations since the United Nations (UN) coalition overwhelmingly defeated Iraq during the Persian Gulf War. Immediately after Iraq's defeat, the first Bush administration unofficially indicated its desire for Iraqi president Saddam Hussein to eventually fall from power-although it made it clear to the American people that it was not a primary U.S. objective or condition to end hostilities. With no definitive strategy to ensure that this eventually happen, the administration, and those to follow, settled upon a policy of containment in an effort to prevent Saddam from rebuilding his military forces, including his weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Under the control of the UN, a series of diplomatic, military, and economic constraints were implemented with the ultimate goal of maintaining regional stability. The UN allowed for humanitarian exemptions to this policy in order for Saddam to meet the non-military needs of his people. The UN policy of containment towards post-Gulf War Iraq has fractured and has been an abysmal failure. The Iraqi regime, under the dictatorial leadership of Saddam Hussein, has significantly rearmed and there is clear evidence that his WMD programs are more advanced now than before the Gulf War-including significant progress made towards development of nuclear armaments. Therefore, it is absolutely essential that the U.S., in concert with the UN, take immediate measures to reexamine its containment policy and put in place a renewed UNsponsored WMD inspection regime. If success should continue to elude the U.S. and its allies, they will have no choice but to launch a pre-emptive military strike to bring about the long awaited Iraqi regime change, assuring once and for all the destruction of Iraq's WMD.